Coordinate Measuring Machines Guarantee the Quality of High-Tech Prosthetics at Össur

A prosthetic leg carries its wearer one million steps every year. To ensure that this is not only possible, but also comfortable, the generally small and light components of the prosthetics must be very strong. This also makes the tolerances very tight: just 10 micrometers for some of the components of computer-controlled knees. Quality Assurance requires precise measuring tools to ensure compliance with the strict specifications. These instruments must also be able to correctly display complex geometries. The artificial knees, for example, feature concave and convex surfaces and cannot be correctly measured manually.

Complex knee components with curved surfaces that Össur had to purchase for a long time are now made by the company. Furthermore, employees had to invest a considerable amount of time for the manual measurements. Moreover, ZEISS PiWeb analysis software that has been in use since 2013 has simplified more than just documentation. Trends in data sequences can be quickly recognized and visualized, enabling employees to quickly draw conclusions about machining processes. The insights provided by the measurement data thus also contribute to the improved quality of the final product. It is this quality that helps Össur's customers stand on two legs.